Which of the following accurately describes an interpreter?

An interpreter is a program that directly executes instructions written in a programming language, translating the code into machine language on the fly. Instead of compiling the entire program before execution (which is what a compiler does), an interpreter processes each instruction one at a time, allowing for immediate execution and ease of debugging. This characteristic makes it particularly useful for scripting languages and educational environments, where quick testing of code snippets is beneficial.

In contrast, a compiler translates the entire source code into machine language before any part of the program runs, which is not the function of an interpreter. Similarly, although a virtual machine might be involved in executing bytecode (such as Java's), it is not the definition of an interpreter itself. Lastly, the management of hardware resources pertains more to system programs or operating systems rather than the purpose or functionality of an interpreter. Therefore, the defining characteristic that accurately describes an interpreter is its ability to execute instructions directly.